Will Gwede Mantashe Resigns Amid Bosasa Crisis?

JOHANNESBURG: ANC’s national chairperson Bosasa debacle continues to hunt him after new evidence emerge.

According to News24, new evidence has emerged indicating that Bosasa indeed installed security upgrades at the Cala, Eastern Cape, home of ANC national chairperson and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe.

The online news website published a series of photographs of a Bosasa employee at the property, ostensibly at work installing an expensive CCTV system and perimeter lighting.

According to the news website, Mantashe did not deny or confirm that the pictures depicted his home in Cala when approached for comment on Monday. Instead, News24 reported that the news website was “running a parallel propaganda project”.

This comes after an employee of Bosasa now known as Africa Global Operations, Richard le Roux testified before the state capture commission of inquiry that he had managed a team of technicians who worked on “Special Projects” – which entailed Le Roux being sent around the country to install security systems at the homes of government officials, including Mantashe, at the behest of Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson, former chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi and other Bosasa directors.

An Independent Political Analyst, Molifi Tshabalala said, “If proven that or corroborative evidence emerges to the effect that African Global Operations, formerly known as Bosasa, had installed security at the properties of Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, he should follow suit of Nhlanhla Nene, who resigned for having lied to the public that he did not meet the Guptas.”

Meanwhile, Le Roux, during his testimony, confirmed the contents of an affidavit he deposed to in November 2017 which first revealed the installations. According to Le Roux, the value of the work at all three of Mantashe’s properties was R300 000.

“Mantashe said the ANC installed security at his home(s). Contrary facts in this regard would mean he had also lied to the public and should resign,” Tshabalala said.